Pants with Interchangeable Gusset Inserts

ABSTRACT

A pants garment has a pant leg extending vertically from about a hip region to a bottom hem, a slit extending upward from the hem, the slit vertically dividing the pant leg into a pair of mating slit edges ending at a terminus, a zipper for releasably closing the slit along the pair of mating slit edges, a gusset formed of a vertically pleated fabric material having a peripheral length sized to match the pair of mating slit edges, and snaps, buttons, zippers or hook and loop fasteners for removably attaching the peripheral length of the gusset to an interior region of the pant leg adjacent the pair of mating slit edges of the pant leg.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to pants and, more specifically,to a pants garment having a closable exterior slit extending verticallyfrom the pant leg bottom to a terminus with a removably attachable insetfastened to the periphery of the slit. The inset, or gusset, isremovably attached by means such as snaps, zippers, buttons or Velcro.

Additionally, the gusset has a pleated and/or gathered portion causingthe fabric material to ripple while walking. Additionally the gusset ofthe present invention is removable to allow for increased comfort whilethe slit is closed.

2. Description of the Prior Art

There are other pants with interchangeable inserts designed for asimilar purpose. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 4,215,435 issued toMiele on Aug. 5, 1980.

Another patent was issued to Charron on Jan. 27, 1987 as U.S. Pat. No.5,943,699. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 6,161,223 was issued to Andrews onDec. 19, 2000 and still yet another was issued on Oct. 23, 2001 to Chouas U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,027.

Another patent was issued to Blaire on Nov. 12, 2002 as U.S. Pat. No.6,477,716. Another U.S. Pat. No. 7,231,671 was issued to Allen on Jun.19, 2007 and yet another issued to Girod on Apr. 1, 2008 as U.S. Pat.No. 7,350,242. An International patent application was published on Aug.2, 2007 to Mullen as publication no. WO2007/087532.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,215,435 Inventor: Joseph Miele Issued: Aug. 5, 1980

Convertible trousers including a body portion configured to be placed onthe lower half of a human torso in a conventional manner, a pair of legportions for accommodating therein a pair of human legs, the legportions each comprising a plurality of flexible interchangeable tubularelements, and means for selectively removeably securing the flexibleinterchangeable tubular elements coextensively together. The tubularelements may be joined to the body portion in various configurations toproduce a garment of a variable length which may be altered to presentseveral different visual appearances.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,638,509 Inventor: Rene Charron Issued: Jan. 27, 1987

Protective trousers for wearing over the lower portion of a dry or wetdiving suit include a pair of panels joined at the crotch area anddefining leg, hip and waist encircling elements. Clips and straps areprovided for connecting the open side edges of the trousers, and forsecuring the bottom ends of the trousers to the feet of a user.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,943,699 Inventor: Claude Barbeau Issued: Aug. 31, 1999

The firefighter's turnout pants according to the invention are designedso that each pant leg comprises a front panel and a back panel above theknee region, the panels being joined by an outseam and an inseam, andcylindrical panels below the knee region, the cylindrical panels beingeach joined by only an outseam and connected via a circumferential seamat the knee to the two-panels above the knee. The absence of an inseambelow the knee of the firefighter's pants eliminates a chronic problemof abrasion of the threads used in that portion of the inseam andsubsequent failure of the inseam. The absence below the knee of aninseam with the potential for failure reduces the maintenance and repairof the firefighter pants, reduces the risk of burn injury resulting froma breach in the protective envelope of the firefighter's pants, andreduces the incidence of reflective trim becoming coincidentallydetached from the pants.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,161,223 Inventor: Allison Andrews Issued: Dec. 19, 2000

A pair of pants that is easily separable at the crotch into right andleft leg portions. Each leg portion is selected from a set of variousstyles to flexibly create a custom mixed or matched style for a givenwearing of the pants. A closure system is provided for quick andconvenient separation and re-combination of the leg portions while alsoproviding secure use of the pants.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,027 Inventor: Chao Mu Chou Issued: Oct. 23, 2001

Pants with a spiral seam with a zipper provided from a torso part ofpants extending downward to lower ends of the pants legs spirally aroundthe respective pants leg and away from a front side of the knee.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,477,716 Inventor: Gloria Blaire Issued: Nov. 12, 2002

Uniform pants are disclosed. The pants are particularly well suited forpersons in law enforcement, the military, security, construction and thelike as well as medical patients and senior citizens who desire easieraccess, convenience and safety when attending to their restroom needs.The pants comprise: a) a waistband; (b) two leg members extending fromthe waistband; a continuous fastener member positioned along the inseamof the leg members, wherein the fastener member begins at a point abovethe bottom edge of one leg member and extends upwardly and through thecrotch area and then downwardly along the second leg member and ends ata point above the bottom edge of the second leg member; and wherein thepositioning of the fastener member creates an opening between the bottomedge of the inseam and the fastener member on each leg member; and (d) aseparate protective shield positioned beneath the full length of thefastener member. Fastener members include zippers, snaps, buttons,hooks, and hook and loop type fasteners. The zipper is of the regular,visible or invisible type when positioned inside the pants.Additionally, the inclusion of a continuous outer flap on top of thefastener member functions to conceal the fastener member from view. Thisouter flap is unnecessary when an invisible type zipper is used as thefastener member.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,231,671 Inventor: Bradley Allen Issued: Jun. 19, 2007

Variable leg width trousers, offering the wearer the ability to changethe diameter of the lower leg sections of the trousers near the foot endwhile keeping the diameter of the upper leg sections constant. Eachlower leg section is formed to have a width adjustment slot. Thetrousers may include a width adjusting insert, releasably attached tothe lower leg sections by at least one joining device for each widthadjustment slot, with which to vary the size of the width adjustinginserts. This allows the user to select the contraction or expansion ofeach lower leg section for functionality or appearance. The inserts maybe constructed of the same material as the trousers or may beconstructed of contrasting materials and/or colors. The width adjustinginserts may incorporate decorative indicia or expressive indicia, or maybear certain functional features, such as reflectors or pockets.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,350,242 Inventor: Elizabeth Girod Issued: Apr. 1, 2008

Garments having an inside-out appearance are disclosed and are designedto be inside-out and fashionable. Unique fasteners, belt carriers andmodifications of pockets make possible wearing a garment having aninside-out appearance. When a conventional garment is turned inside outmany features such as belt carriers, zippers, and pockets becomedifficult or impossible to use when the garment is worn. Garmentsdisclosed herein permit full use of features such as belt carriers,buttons, zippers, and pockets.

International Patent Publication Number WO2007/087532 Inventor: NicoleMullen Published: Aug. 2, 2007

A garment constructed so that parts of the garment are detachable andinterchangeable. For a pair of pants, the top portion of the garment ismade of a pair of shorts, Capri pants, gauchos, or pants. A fastener isattached to each pants leg, either at the hem or some inches above thehem. The fastener can be exposed or covered by fabric. Extenders, whichmay be made of any kind of fabric and in a variety of shapes (i.e., bellbottoms, flares or straight), attach to the fastener of the garment,changing the appearance and style of the garment by adding length,various trims such as fur or leather, or various colors, textures and/orpatterns to the existing fabrics. For example, a pair of shorts could beconverted into Capri or full length pants or simply be given a trim.

While these pants may be suitable for the purposes for which they weredesigned, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the presentinvention, as hereinafter described.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide pants having aclosable exterior slit extending from the pant leg bottom to a terminus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide pants having aninset, or gusset, which is removably attachable to the periphery of theslit.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide pants having agusset which is removably attachable to the periphery of the slit bymeans selected from the group of snaps, zippers, buttons and Velcro.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide pantswith a removable gusset having a pleated and/or gathered portion at itsapex causing the fabric material to ripple while walking.

Another object of the present invention is to provide pants havinggussets that are interchangeable.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide pants havinggussets with different colors and/or designs.

Additional objects of the present invention will appear as thedescription proceeds.

The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art byproviding pants having a closable exterior slit extending from the pantleg bottom to a terminus with a removably attachable gusset fastened tothe periphery of the slit. The gusset is removably attached by meanstaken from the group of snaps, zippers, buttons and Velcro. The gussethas a pleat at its apex causing the fabric material to ripple whilewalking.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from thedescription to follow. In the description reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shownby way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention maybe practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detailto enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it isto be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and thatstructural changes may be made without departing from the scope of theinvention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference charactersdesignate the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in alimiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best definedby the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now bedescribed, by way of example, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of the present invention in use.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an assembled view of the present invention with pants slitopen.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the present invention using snapfasteners.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the present invention using Velcrofasteners.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the present invention using buttonfasteners.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the present invention using zipperfasteners.

FIG. 9 is an illustrative view of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an illustrative view of the present invention with slit in aclosed position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS

Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar referencecharacters denote similar elements throughout the several views, thefigures illustrate the pants having removable gussets of the presentinvention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the followingnumbering is used throughout the various drawing figures.

10 pants garment

12 user

14 pant leg

16 gusset

18 hip region of said pants garment

20 bottom hem

22 slit

24 pair of mating slit edges

26 terminus

28 zipper

30 peripheral length of gusset

32 means for attaching gusset to pant leg

34 interior region of pant leg

36 knee

38 vertical pleats

40 outside portion of pant leg

42 seam in pant leg

44 open position of zipper

46 partly open position of zipper

48 fabric material

50 snaps

52 ornamentation

54 hook and loop fasteners

56 buttons

57 button holes

58 zippers

60 closed position of zipper

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of theinvention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussionshould not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to thoseparticular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognizenumerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scopeof the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims.

FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of the present invention in use. Thepresent invention is a pants garment 10 wearable by a user 12, the pantsgarment pant legs 14 having removable and replaceable gussets 16 forflaring out the pant legs 14. The pants garment 10 is shown as a pantleg 14 extending vertically from about a hip region 18 of the pantsgarment 10 to a bottom hem 20. A slit 22 extends upward from the hem 20,vertically dividing the pant leg 14 into a pair of mating slit edges 24ending at a terminus 26 with a zipper 28 acting as means for releasablyclosing the slit 22. A gusset 16 has a peripheral length 30 sized tomatch the pair of mating slit edges 24, both of which have affixedthereto means 32 for removably attaching the gusset 16 to the pant leg14. Preferably, the peripheral length 30 of the gusset 16 is removablyattachable to an interior region 34 of the pant leg 14 adjacent the slitedges 24, such that the zipper 28, when closed, maintains the gusset 16inside the pant leg 14. The terminus 26 can be located at any pointbetween the hem 20 and the hip region 18, and preferably is near orabove the knee 36.

Illustrated is an embodiment of the invention wherein the fabricmaterial making up the gusset 16 flares out from the terminus 26 to thehem 20 and further includes a plurality of vertical pleats 38. The pantsgarment 10 of the present invention can have one or both legs havingremovable gussets 16. The slit 22 can be situated at any vertical linealong the pant leg 14; shown is an embodiment wherein the slit 22 runsvertically up an outside portion 40 of the pant leg 14 and is generallyco-linear to a seam 42 in the pant leg 14.

In use a user 12 attaches a gusset 16 to the pant leg 14, thenmanipulates the zipper 28 to a desired position, such as an open 44,closed or partially open 46 position. Shown is the zipper 28 in an openposition 44 and a partially open position 46. Optionally, the zipper 28is adapted to remain in the selected position.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the present invention. Shown is a pantsgarment 10 with pant legs 14 having removable pleated 38 gussets 16being attached thereto. A slit 22 extends upward from the hem 20,vertically dividing the pant leg 14 into a pair of mating slit edges 24ending at a terminus 26 with a zipper 28 acting as means for releasablyclosing the slit 22. A gusset 16, preferably formed of a fabric material48, has a peripheral length sized to match the pair of mating slit edges24, both of which have affixed thereto means 32 selected from snaps 50,buttons, zippers and hook and loop fasteners (VELCRO) for removablyattaching the gusset 16 to the pant leg 14.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the present invention. Shown is a pantsgarment 10 with pant legs 14 having removable gussets 16 being detachedtherefrom. A slit 22 extends upward from the hem 20, vertically dividingthe pant leg 14 into a pair of mating slit edges 24 ending at a terminus26 with a zipper 28 acting as means for releasably closing the slit 22.A gusset 16, preferably formed of a fabric material 48, has a peripherallength sized to match the pair of mating slit edges 24, both of whichhave affixed thereto means 32 selected from snaps 50, buttons, zippersand hook and loop fasteners (VELCRO) for removably attaching the gusset16 to the pant leg 14.

FIG. 4 is an assembled view of the present invention with pants slitopen. Shown is a pants garment 10 with pant legs 14 having a removablegusset 16 being attached thereto. A slit 22 extends upward from the hem20, vertically dividing the pant leg 14 into a pair of mating slit edges24 ending at a terminus 26 with a zipper 28 acting as means forreleasably closing the slit 22. A gusset 16, preferably formed of afabric material 48, has a peripheral length sized to match the pair ofmating slit edges 24, both of which have affixed thereto means 32selected from snaps 50, buttons, zippers and hook and loop fasteners(VELCRO) for removably attaching the gusset 16 to the pant leg 14.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the present invention 10 using snapfasteners 50. Shown is a sectional view of the present invention usingmating snap fasteners 50 as a means of attaching the gusset 16 to thepant leg 14. Also shown is an embodiment of the invention wherein thefabric material 48 further comprises ornamentation 52, such as patterns,textures and other adornments.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the present invention 10 using hook andloop (Velcro) fasteners 54. Shown is a sectional view of the presentinvention using hook and loop fasteners 54 as a means of attaching thegusset 16 to the pant leg 14. Also shown is an embodiment of theinvention wherein the fabric material 48 further comprises ornamentation52, such as patterns, textures and other adornments.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the present invention 10 using buttonfasteners 56. Shown is a sectional view of the present invention usingbutton fasteners 56 and mating button holes 57 as a means of attachingthe gusset 16 to the pant leg 14. Also shown is an embodiment of theinvention wherein the fabric material 48 further comprises ornamentation52, such as patterns, textures and other adornments.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the present invention 10 using zipperfasteners 58. Shown is a sectional view of the present invention usingzipper fasteners 58 as a means of attaching the gusset 16 to the pantleg 14.

FIG. 9 is an illustrative view of the present invention 10. Shown is asectional view of the pant leg 14 of the present invention with thezipper 28 in a partly open position 46. The gusset 16 contains aplurality of pleats 38.

FIG. 10 is an illustrative view of the present invention 10 with slit 22in a closed position 60. Shown is a sectional view of the pant leg 14 ofthe present invention with the zipper 28 in a closed position 60. Thepresent invention provides for pants that can be used with a formalappearance having the slit 22 closed 60 and a fashionable appearancehaving the slit open displaying the rippled gusset. Additionally thegusset may be removed for comfort or left remaining for future use,should the user decide to close the zipper 28.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together may also find a useful application in other types ofmethods differing from the type described above.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown anddescribed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intendedto be limited to the details above, since it will be understood thatvarious omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the formsand details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be madeby those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spiritof the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

1. A pants garment comprising: a) a pant leg extending vertically fromabout a hip region of said pants garment to a bottom hem; b) a slitextending upward from said hem of said pant leg, said slit verticallydividing said pant leg into a pair of mating slit edges ending at aterminus; c) means for releasably closing said slit along said pair ofmating slit edges; d) a gusset having a peripheral length sized to matchsaid pair of mating slit edges; and e) means for removably attachingsaid peripheral length of said gusset to said pair of mating slit edgesof said pant leg.
 2. A pants garment according to claim 1, wherein saidmeans for releasably closing said slit along said pair of mating slitedges comprises a zipper.
 3. A pants garment according to claim 2,wherein said means for removably attaching said peripheral length ofsaid gusset to said pair of mating slit edges of said pant leg isselected from the group snaps, buttons, zippers and hook and loopfasteners.
 4. A pants garment according to claim 3, wherein saidperipheral length of said gusset is removably attachable to an interiorregion of said pant leg adjacent said pair of mating slit edges of saidpant leg.
 5. A pants garment according to claim 4, wherein said gussetcomprises a fabric material.
 6. A pants garment according to claim 5,wherein said fabric material further comprises ornamentation.
 7. A pantsgarment according to claim 6, wherein said ornamentation is selectedfrom patterns, textures and adornments.
 8. A pants garment according toclaim 5, wherein said terminus is between said bottom hem and said hipregion of said pants garment.
 9. A pants garment according to claim 8,wherein said terminus is near a knee region of said pant leg.
 10. Apants garment according to claim 8, wherein said terminus is between aknee region of said pant leg and said hip region of said pants garment.11. A pants garment according to claim 8, wherein said gusset comprisesa plurality of vertical pleats.
 12. A pants garment according to claim11, wherein said fabric material of said gusset flares out from saidterminus to said hem.
 13. A pants garment according to claim 8, whereinsaid slit is generally co-linear to a seam in said pant leg.
 14. A pantsgarment according to claim 13, wherein said seam in said pant leg runsvertically up an outside portion of said pant leg.
 15. A pants garmentaccording to claim 8, wherein said zipper is adapted to remain in aposition selected from open, closed and partially open.
 16. A pantsgarment according to claim 8, further comprising a second pant legsimilar to said pant leg.
 17. A method of manufacturing a pants garmentcomprising the steps: a) providing a pants garment having a pant legextending vertically from about a hip region of said pants garment to abottom hem; b) cutting into said pant leg a slit extending upward fromsaid hem of said pant leg, said slit vertically dividing said pant leginto a pair of mating slit edges ending at a terminus; c) affixing azipper for releasably closing said slit along said pair of mating slitedges from said hem to said terminus; d) providing a vertically pleatedgusset formed of a fabric material and having a peripheral length sizedto match said pair of mating slit edges; and e) affixing means selectedfrom the group snaps, buttons, zippers and hook and loop fasteners to aninterior region of said pant leg adjacent said pair of mating slit edgesand said peripheral length of said gusset for removably attaching saidperipheral length of said gusset to said pair of mating slit edges ofsaid pant leg.
 18. A method of manufacturing a pants garment accordingto claim 17, wherein said fabric material further comprisesornamentation selected from patterns, textures and adornments.
 19. Amethod of manufacturing a pants garment according to claim 17, whereinsaid terminus is near a knee region of said pant leg.
 20. A method ofmanufacturing a pants garment according to claim 19, wherein said fabricmaterial of said gusset flares out from said terminus to said hem.
 21. Amethod of manufacturing a pants garment according to claim 20, whereinsaid slit is cut generally co-linear to a seam in said pant leg.
 22. Amethod of manufacturing a pants garment according to claim 21, whereinsaid seam in said pant leg runs vertically up an outside portion of saidpant leg.
 23. A method of modifying the appearance of a pants garmentcomprising the steps: a) providing a pants garment having a pant legextending vertically from about a hip region to a bottom hem, a slitextending upward from said hem, said slit vertically dividing said pantleg into a pair of mating slit edges ending at a terminus, a zipper forreleasably closing said slit along said pair of mating slit edges, agusset formed of a vertically pleated fabric material having aperipheral length sized to match said pair of mating slit edges, andmeans selected from the group snaps, buttons, zippers and hook and loopfasteners for removably attaching said peripheral length of said gussetto an interior region of said pant leg adjacent said pair of mating slitedges of said pant leg; and b) removably attaching said gusset to saidpant leg.
 24. A method of modifying the appearance of a pants garmentaccording to claim 23, further comprising the step of manipulating saidzipper to a desired position along said pair of mating slit edges, saiddesired position selected from the group open, closed and partly open.25. A method of modifying the appearing of a pants garment according toclaim 23, wherein said slit is generally co-linear to a seam runningvertically up an outside portion of said pant leg.
 26. A method ofmodifying the appearing of a pants garment according to claim 23,further comprising the steps: a) removing said gusset from said pantleg; and b) manipulating said zipper to a desired position selected fromthe group open, closed and partly open.
 27. A method of modifying theappearing of a pants garment according to claim 23, further comprisingthe steps: a) removing said gusset from said pant leg; b) removablyattaching a second gusset to said pant leg; and c) manipulating saidzipper to a desired position selected from the group open, closed andpartly open.